Container



J 15, 1963 s. L. GOODRIQH ETAL 3,073,500

CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1960 INVENTORS- Quad Mama WWW? J 15 5. L. GOODRICH ETAL 4 I CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8, 1960 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1|" a na IN VEN T0115 J 15 19 3 S. L. GOODRICH EI'AL v 3,073,500

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvrom. Edward? Zia/40105 4 BV W W M 3,073,500 CGNTAINER Stanley L. Goodrich, Palatine, and Edward S. Kordowsln, Chicago, llL, assignors to General Box Company, Des Piaines, iii, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 1,202

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) This invention pertains to a container and, in particular, to a materials handling container for bulk materials.

Materials handling containers such as pallet boxes are constructed for economical reasons from component parts which may be acquired in disassembled form for conservation of space during the periods of transportation and storage prior to and after use. In this manner, the box may be readily assembled at the point of loading and disassembled at the point of unloading, so that its component parts again may be compactly and economically stored until further use. Since the component parts are constructed of light weight materials and may be shipped fiat, a minimum of empty box storage area is occupied, and, at the same time, the storage capacity may be as low as two pounds per cubic foot. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a pallet box of a new and novel construction to meet the above requirements.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a container of a simple and economical construction that may be used in the handling of bulk materials and that completely encloses the materials to be contained therein, so as to prevent pilferage, entry of foreign matter and spillage of contents. A smooth outer surface, with no exposed rough supporting parts, so that advertising, marking and coding may be easily imprinted thereon, is combined with a smooth inner surface, there- .by providing for bulk packaging free of contamination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a con tainer having the ability to withstand high stacking loads without package breakdown. A double wall construction for high puncture resistance and corner post reinforcements for load transmittal combine to provide a container that is not affected by rough handling, high humidity or damp storage areas. Side wall rigidity is imparted through the utilization of flaps on the inner wall. An easily attachable and detachable sturdy Wood base, adapted for lift truck operations and arranged for either two-way or four-Way entry, as desired, assures even and safe stacking in wet or dry areas.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of a simple and economical construction utilizing both wood and corrugated fiber board parts, so that the salient properties of wood, including high strength under adverse atmospheric conditions, ruggedness and high ultimate strength, are combined with the smooth surface, low density and low comparative cost attributes of corrugated fiber board. The corrugated parts may be easily altered to meet the particular package problem while keeping the wood components standard so as to be a stock item. Assembly of the component parts is versatile and economical and may include the use of tacks, Wide crown staples, steel banding, glue or tape.

Patented Jan.- 15, 1963 a QQ These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon reading the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of container embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container illustrative the double wall construction with vertical reinforcing cleats mounted at the corners and between the inner and outer walls;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the construction of a container illustrating the narrow inner ilaps which impart side wall rigidity;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a closed container with the outer flaps sealed;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a container illustrating the use of additional vertical reinforcing cleats between the inner and outer walls and intermediate the corners;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 66 in FiGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of one form of a pallet showing the construction of the supporting platform of the container;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of a pair of reinforcing cleats;

FIGURE 10 is a rear elevation of a pair of reinforcing cleats; v

PlGURE 11 is a perspective view of the-cleats formed into a reinforcement angle as seen from the rear;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective View of the cleats formed into a reinforcement angle as seen from the front;

FIGURE 13 is a plan View of a sheet of fiber board material prepared for use in forming the outer box; and

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a sheet of fiber board material prepared for use in forming the inner box.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the construction of a container it from its component parts. These parts may include a base or pallet l1 comprised of a plurality of supporting blocks 12, preferably nine in number in rows of threes, to define thereo'etween longitudinal and lateral passageways to permit the entry of the two spaced forks of a lift truck (not shown) from any one of the four sides of the pallet. However, the pallet 11 is not a necessary component of the invention and may be eliminated as desired.

The supporting blocks 12 are formed into a supporting platform ll, as shown in FIGURE 8, by means of a plurality of upper and lower slats 13 and 14 respectively and cross slats 15 which are nailed to the supporting blocks 12, as shown in FIGURE 8. These platforms or pallets 13. are preformed and, due to their construction, may be stacked for storage prior to selection in the construction of a pallet box. The supporting blocks and connecting slats are preferably of an economical and sturdy material such as wood, although any other suitable material mayother suitable material shown in FIGURES 13 and -14. The sheet may be preformed so that when folded will constitute an outer box 16 consisting of a plurality of outer walls 17, 18, 19, 20, upper outer flaps 21, 22, 23, 24, lower outer flaps 25, 26, 27, 28 and an outer sealing flap 29. The outer sealing flap 29 may be sealed overlapping one of the outer walls 17, as shown in FIGURE 1, in any suitable manner such as by stapling or gluing. In some instances the flap 29 may be eliminated, and the ends of panels 17 and 18 are sealed in abutting relationship by tapes. The lower outer fiaps are folded under and sealed in the usual manner and the outer box 16 is mounted on the pallet 11.

An inner box 30, having dimensions slightly smaller than those of the outer box 16, is formed of a suitable packaging material such as corrugated fiber board in the same manner as the outer box 16, so as to constitute a plurality of inner walls 31, 32, 33, 34, upper inner flaps 35, 36, 37, 38, lower inner flaps 39, 40, 41, 42 and an inner sealing flap 43. This inner box 30 is mounted within the outer box 16 as shown in FIGURE 2, so as to form a double wall construction.

These inner and outer boxes may be stored flat for conservation of space, in the usual manner, as shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, or doubled over with the flap 29 sealed overlapping side 17 and sides 17 and 20 abutting sides 18 and 19 respectively.

Another component of the pallet box is a plurality of cleat members 44, which may be of any suitable material, although wood is preferred because of its high strength. As shown in FIGURES 9--l2, these cleat members 44 are formed into a plurality of corner reinforcing angles 46, 47, 48, 49 by means of hinges 45, preferably of metal, which are stapled or otherwise driven into the cleat members 44. It should be noted that, when a pair of cleat members are hinged in this manner, a space should be left between the cleat members so as to provide adequate leeway for the hinges 45 to bend when the pairs of cleat members are formed normal to each other to constitute a reinforcing angle 46. Four angles, formed of hinged cleat members, are mounted, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, to reinforce the corners of the pallet box by inserting the angles between the outer box 16 and the inner box 30.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the upper inner flaps 35, 36, 37, 38 are narrow and, when folded, do not enclose the upper surface of the inner box 30. These inner flaps constitute, when folded, a structural support for the pallet box by helping to impart side wall rigidity to the construction. It is to be noted that the inner flaps in some instances may enclose the upper surface of the pallet box.

The double wall construction reinforced container is attached to the pallet 11 by means of tacks 50, which are driven through the lower inner and outer flaps into the supporting blocks 12, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. These tacks 50 are driven in any suitable manner such as by the use of a tack rod (not shown). Other means for securing the boxes to the pallet may be used, such as adhesive, staples and the like.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a container 10, as shown in FIGURE 5, in which additional cleat members 51, 52, 53, 54 have been added between the outer Walls 17, 18, 19, 20 and the inner walls 31, 32, 33, 34 respectively and intermediate the corner reinforcing angles 46, 47, 48, 49.

It will now be seen that the component parts, such as the pallet 11, shown in FIGURE 8, the outer box 16, shown in FIGURE 13, the inner box 30, shown in FIG- URE l4, and the hinged cleat members 44, 45, shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, may be transported and stored separately prior to and after use as a container for the handling of bulk materials. Construction of the pallet box from these component parts is easily obtained by folding the corrugated fiber board packaging sheets as shown in the drawings to form outer and inner boxes 16, 30 and inserting the inner box 30 within the outer box 16, as shown in FIGURE 2. The hinged cleat members 44, 45 are bent normal to each other to form the reinforcing angles 46, shown in FIGURES 11 and 12', and these angles are inserted between the inner and outer boxes at the corners thereof to provide an even transmittal of the load, when one or more filled pallet boxes are stacked upon one another. Thus, a columnar supporting structure is brought about in which the load is borne by the angles 46, 47, 48, 49 at the corners of the container 10. The upper flaps of the inner box 30 are folded to form a construction imparting added side wall rigidity to the pallet box construction. The combination of the lower outer flaps of the outer box 16 and the lower inner flaps of the inner box 30 when folded comprise a sturdy bottom side for the container. However, where a lighter construction is desired, certain of the lower flaps on the inner and outer boxes may be eliminated. The inner and outer boxes are then secured to the pallet box by means of suitable fasteners such as the tacks 50, shown in FIGURE 6. After a particular use of the pallet box has been completed, the component parts may be disassembled by removal of the fastening means and withdrawal of the reinforcing angles, and stored for future use.

It should be noted particularly that the placing of the rough finished reinforcing materials within the spaced inner and outer boxes provides both a smooth outer surface, capable of being easily marked, and a smooth inner surface free of obstructions susceptible to the accumulation of contaminating elements. At the same time, the double wall construction in combination with the pallet base is capable of maintaining the bulk contents of the container dry and unaffected by damp floors or walls in the area where the pallet box may be stored or transported.

It will be apparent that the invention may be modified so as to be applicable to other types of containers, particularly in the bulk packaging field.

Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that these are merely by way of example and in no manner to be construed as limitations. It is apparent that certain modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A materials handling container comprising a pallet for supporting the container, a first box having a plurality of sides mounted on said pallet, a second box having a like plurality of sides disposed within said first box with the sides of said boxes being arranged in a closely spaced face-to-face relationship to form a double wall construction, said first and second boxes having lower flaps, means for securing said lower flaps to said pallet to fasten said boxes thereto, said second box having flaps depending inwardly from the upper ends of its sides, said first box having flaps depending inwardly from the upper ends of at least a part of its sides for closing said container, and a plurality of substantially rigid cleat members mounted vertically between the sides of said first and second boxes, said cleat members extending vertically between the upper and lower flaps of said first box, at least some of said cleat members being composed of two hinged members arranged at right angles and mounted at the corners of said first and second boxes.

2. A materials handling container comprising a pallet for supporting the container, a first box having a plurality of sides mounted on said pallet, a second box having a like plurality of sides disposed within said first box with the sides of said boxes being arranged in a closely spaced face-to-face relationship to form a double wall construction, said first and second boxes having lower fiaps, means for securing said lower flaps to said pallet to fasten said boxes thereto, said second box having flaps depending inwardly from the upper ends of its sides, said first box having flaps depending inwardly from the upper ends of at least a part of its sides for closing said container, and a plurality of substantially rigid cleat members mounted vertically between the sides of said first and second boxes, said cleat members extending vertically between the lower and upper flaps of said first box, at least some of said cleat members being composed of two hinged members arranged at right angles and mounted at the corners of said first and second boxes, others of said cleat members being mounted intermediate said hinged cleat members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lofland May 13, Moehle Mar. 10, Graham Aug. 11, Hultin June 29, Belsinger Mar. 31, Mueller Jan. 10, Fallert Sept. 11, Daniels May 27, Mackenzie May 19, 

1. A MATERIALS HANDLING CONTAINER COMPRISING A PALLET FOR SUPPORTING THE CONTAINER, A FIRST BOX HAVING A PLURALITY OF SIDES MOUNTED ON SAID PALLET, A SECOND BOX HAVING A LIKE PLURALITY OF SIDES DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST BOX WITH THE SIDES OF SAID BOXES BEING ARRANGED IN A CLOSELY SPACED FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP TO FORM A DOUBLE WALL CONSTRUCTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND BOXES HAVING LOWER FLAPS, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID LOWER FLAPS TO SAID PALLET TO FASTEN SAID BOXES THERETO, SAID SECOND BOX HAVING FLAPS DEPENDING INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF ITS SIDES, SAID FIRST BOX HAVING FLAPS DEPENDING INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF AT LEAST A PART OF ITS SIDES FOR CLOSING SAID CONTAINER, AND A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CLEAT MEMBERS MOUNTED VERTICALLY BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BOXES, SAID CLEAT MEMBERS EXTENDING VERTICALLY BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER FLAPS OF SAID FIRST BOX, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID CLEAT MEMBERS BEING COMPOSED OF TWO HINGED MEMBERS ARRANGED AT RIGHT ANGLES AND MOUNTED AT THE CORNERS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND BOXES. 